Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitter array package for compiling optical data signals through an optical coupling connector is presented. The package includes the laser array that is mounted on a backing plate that has alignment holes in it, which receive alignment pins to align the array with the input end of the optical coupling connector. In one version of the package the input end of the optical coupling connector extends into the housing of the package and is aligned with the laser array. In a second version the optical coupling connector is extended to the housing and is aligned with optical fibers that project a feed-through assembly into alignment with a second optical coupling connector inside of the package, which in turn is aligned with the laser array. In a third embodiment an optical lens is aligned with the laser array and transmits optical data signals through a window insert in the housing of the package to the input end of the optical coupling connector.

Abstract: A conventional color charge-coupled-device (CCD) camera without a near infrared blocking filter is used to detect desired vegetation from undesired vegetation and other background. This detection technique relies on the fact that near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths are received by CCD cameras in predetermined frequency bands. This provides output signals from the green and blue pixels of the CCD camera which are approximately equal in interests to the intensity of the infrared portion of the signal provided by the red pixels. A filter is placed between a target area and the CCD camera to restrict the light received by the camera to a bandwidth (approximately from wavelengths of 600-1400 nm), which allows the NIR signal component of the green or blue pixels in this bandwidth to be compared by a signal processing device to the NIR plus R output of the red pixels. In this bandwidth the intensity of the output from the red pixels due to red light from the target area is maximized.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for determining the best match, i.e., minimum Hamming distance, between a search word and a plurality of file words is disclosed. The method involves simultaneously comparing the search word to a file word and to a match word. If the comparison indicates that the file word is a better match than the match word, the file word becomes the match word and the next file word is compared to the new match word. The operation continues until all the file words have been operated upon such that the last match word becomes the best match word.

Abstract: A solid state apparatus for and a method of (1) coupling a light beam to a dielectric waveguide, (2) modulating the intensity of the coupled, diffracted light beam, and (3) multiplexing the coupled, diffracted light beam within the waveguide to any one of several detectors. The apparatus uses a liquid-phase epitaxially (LPE) grown film of bismuth substituted rare earth iron garnet to form a magnetizable layer in which stripe domains may be generated, sustained and moved about. The stripe domains from a diffraction grating, the stripe domain width and orientation of which may be altered by the application of external magnetic fields--see the E. J. Torok, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,563. The altered stripe domains are, in turn, utilized to alter the coupling of the light beam to the waveguide and to alter the direction that the coupled, diffracted light beam is directed within the waveguide.